When Least Expected by Allison B. Hanson Read Free Book Online Page B

favorite aunt won’t be around anymore is harmful , Ian.”
    â€œI know. You’re right. I’m sorry.”
    â€œIt wasn’t your fault. I really don’t know what you see in her. She’s not your type at all. Do you stay with her because it pisses me off? Because if that’s your goal, you do plenty of other things that piss me off.”
    â€œActually . . .” He hadn’t wanted to get into it with his sister, or anyone else for that matter. “I broke up with her last week.”
    â€œSo she took Aidan to seek revenge?”
    â€œNo, no. She told me she stopped by my apartment to pick up a sweatshirt she left there. She heard my phone go off and looked at it.” He rolled his eyes. “She thought I had a new girlfriend until she saw your text. She wanted you to like her, so she thought if she and Aidan bonded, you would have to like her. I think she thought if you liked her, I would take her back.”
    Kelly snorted.
    â€œPlease! I like Lexi and you haven’t taken her back.”
    â€œDon’t you want the best for Lexi, Kel?”
    â€œOf course I do.”
    â€œWell, it isn’t me,” he said before he left. “Don’t say anything about the breakup. I mean it.”
    â€œYou’re not the boss of me!” she yelled after him.
    Ian stopped in at his parents’ place around dinnertime in the hopes of scoring a good home-cooked meal. To his surprise, Alexis was there.
    Both of the Mrs. Montgomerys were in the kitchen, laughing and talking. When he stepped into the room, they stopped and stared as if they’d gotten caught.
    â€œOh, hi, Ian. Did we have plans for dinner?” his mom asked.
    â€œNo. I was just over at Kelly’s and thought I’d stop in.” He looked at Lexi, who seemed intent on cutting up a piece of red pepper into tiny bits.
    â€œWell, you’re more than welcome to stay for dinner; it’s just that I invited Lexi over.” His mom gave him a dismissive glance and continued stirring whatever was in the pot that made the house smell so damn delicious.
    â€œOh.” He wasn’t sure if he should leave. He didn’t want to leave, but his mother sure wasn’t making him feel invited.
    â€œIt’s okay. I can go,” Lexi offered, making his mouth fall open.
    â€œNo!” his mother said at the same time he said, “Absolutely not.”
    â€œAlexis, you’re my friend, whether you’re married to my son or not. He made his choice; I’m making mine. You stay. He can either deal with it or go.” His mother gave him her don’t-mess-with-me look.
    He turned to Lexi. “I’m actually fine with it, if that’s okay.” It was her decision. If she didn’t want him there, he would go.
    Both women nodded.
    â€œIt’s fine,” Lexi said quietly, directing all her attention to the poor pepper, which was now divided at the molecular level.
    Ian went to the den to find his father, but he was napping. He tried to come up with something else to do so he wouldn’t encroach on their girl time, but he wanted to be in the same room as Lexi. He wandered back to the kitchen quietly to see if it was safe.
    â€œ. . . not the same thing,” his mother said.
    â€œBut maybe if you gave her a chance she would come around,” Lexi said. Was she defending Meeghan? He stopped in the hallway to listen. He was becoming a serial eavesdropper lately.
    â€œShe stole my grandchild!”
    â€œIt was a stupid way to try to connect with the family, but I don’t think she meant any harm,” Lexi said.
    â€œShe doesn’t fit in with us.”
    â€œI know I was bewildered by this family when I first started dating Ian.” Lexi laughed, making him smile. God, he loved to hear her laugh.
    â€œThere’s a difference between being bewildered and being downright rude. Do you know, she didn’t even say good-bye to any of us after the